Finding a Harber at Decorex: David Harber unveils new work for 2011 1

• Curved Water Wall unveiled at Decorex 2011
• The Mantle, shortlisted at Chelsea, joins award-winning Chalice and other classics
• See David Harber works at Eaton Square Gardens, Belgravia, until 23 September
• IMAGES: http://bit.ly/DHatDecorex

Sculptor and artist David Harber - whose clients include royalty and Hollywood stars - will be unveiling new work as well as showcasing some of his most popular classic designs at Decorex International this autumn (25-29 September, www.decorex.com).
(Full list of designs below).

David Harber (www.davidharber.com) is a British artist whose works are rooted in art, science and ancient ideas. Working one-on-one with a client, David develops bespoke designs to suit any location, from the interior of a yacht to an English country garden. His designs have been included in private and public collections around the UK and abroad from colleges at both Oxford and Cambridge to the Al Rawdha Palace, Bahrain. Having made his name as an outdoor sculptor and sundial maker he has increasingly been involved with interiors projects - recent high-profile commissions include five site-specific works for Heathrow Terminal 5 (see: www.davidharbersundials.co.uk/corporate/heathrow).

New for 2011 at Decorex are the Curved Water Wall, which will be on show to the public for the first time at the event, and The Mantle, nominated for the Product of the Year Award at Chelsea Flower Show, where it was unveiled this year.

Comprising a series of undulating polished steel strips over which water gently courses, reflecting and distorting the sculpture’s surroundings, the Curved Water Wall can be adapted to any size and is designed to work equally well in a city garden, an open interior or as part of a landscape design.  

The Mantle takes the form of a perfect sphere made up of hundreds of organic bronze shapes creating a latticework of blue green verdigris. The underside of each shape is gilded with 23½ -carat gold leaf, which catches any sunlight, creating a warm ethereal golden glow from within the sphere. By night a candle turns the sculpture into a Moroccan lantern.

The new designs join some of his most iconic work, including The Chalice, which has featured in commissions for the Al Rawdha Palace, Bahrain, and Hyatt Hotels. Part of the appeal of The Chalice lies in the optical illusion – a typical Harber trait – that the entire stainless steel hemisphere is slowly revolving on its axis, which is created by millimetric accuracy in the design that keeps the flowing water clinging to the mirror-polished outer surface. As with many Harber creations the Chalice can be etched with a date or personal motto. The Chalice was awarded the Design and Decoration Award for Best Outdoor Product in 2004. Other recent awards for David Harber works include the United Arab Emirates Award of Excellence for Unique Product Concept and the Sundries Trophy at Chelsea, which David was presented with for the fourth time this year.

Visitors seeking a taste of David Harber works in advance of Decorex will find a solo show of his work at Eaton Square Gardens, Belgravia, until 23 September. (Viewing of these private gardens is by appointment only – contact: sophie@davidharber.com)

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Press Contacts and images:

For further information on David Harber and for high-resolution images please contact:

William Kallaway: 020 7221 7883 / william.kallaway@kallaway.com
Susannah Glynn: 020 7221 7883 / susannah.glynn@kallaway.com

IMAGES: http://bit.ly/DHatDecorex

About David Harber works
www.davidharber.com; Twitter: @DavidHarber
David Harber works are rooted in art, science and ancient ideas. From his Oxfordshire studio David creates beautiful, one-off pieces on a human or monumental scale for indoor environments and outdoor landscapes. Works by David Harber are included in collections around the UK and abroad, from private gardens to corporate headquarters and including colleges at both Oxford and Cambridge and the Al Rawdha Palace, Bahrain. Clients have included Dame Judi Dench, Jeremy Irons and George Michael and his work has been unveiled by HM Queen Elizabeth, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and Prince Charles. Works by David Harber regularly win awards; in 2011 he was awarded the RHS Sundries Trophy at the Chelsea Flower Show for the fourth time.

About the artist
Educated at Dartington Hall School, one of the most artistic schools of the time, David Harber worked as an apprentice thatcher, a potter, and a professional mountaineer before converting a Dutch barge into a travelling theatre and arts centre and touring the waterways of Europe. His career as an outdoor sculptor began when Jeremy Irons bought his first armillary sundial. David lives in Oxfordshire and is married to Sophie. He has four children: Celeste, Maya, Freya and Romany. When not pursuing another passion – aviation – he is to be found at the family’s renovated lemon farm in Sicily.


David Harber Sculptures on show at Decorex International 2011

The Mantle (NEW) – a verdigris bronze sphere, consisting of dozens of individual bronze petals welded together to represent the broken nature of the Earth's crust. Lined internally with 23 ½ carat gold leaf to mimic the Earth's molten core, the gold leaf constantly shimmers and glows, flooding the centre of the piece with light - soft and subtle when the sky is overcast; bright and intense when the sun's rays hit the piece. At night a candle turns the design into a Moroccan lantern. The Mantle was shortlisted for the Product of the Year Award at Chelsea 2011.

Curved Water Wall (NEW): a series of undulating polished steel strips. As water runs over the moulded surface the sculpture bends and shapes its surroundings, reflecting and distorting its environment.                  

The Fire Table (NEW): The base of the Fire Table is a half sphere of trademark smooth black puddle stones individually selected and then resin bonded to a hidden internal stainless steel frame, creating a highly tactile piece. The top is made from a circular piece of solid black granite, with a circular, raised and concave burner bowl made of mirror polished stainless steel. The hypnotic yellow flames flicker and dance, warming those close by and casting shadows all around. Internal lighting also emits a yellow light that shines through the chinks and gaps in the stones and bathes the surrounding area with a warm glow.

The Chalice: Awarded the Design and Decoration Award for Best Outdoor Product (2004), the Chalice presents an intriguing optical illusion – a typical Harber trait. Finely-balanced engineering means that flowing water clings to the mirror-polished surface, creating the illusion that entire stainless steel bowl is revolving on its axis. The water is lit from beneath.

Dark Planet: A garden sphere of smooth black puddle stones. Shafts of light shine from the inside through chinks in the stones.

Vertical Dial: Combining the traditional and the modern, David offers a range of beautiful vertical sundial designs.

Bronze Armillary Sphere: These sundials offer an interpretation of the traditional armillary with a contemporary statement of classical values.

Stainless Steel Armillary: David’s interpretation of the traditional armillary offers a contemporary statement of classical values and is particularly well-suited to personalised engraving.

 

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